Witnesses Catch Boy After He Snatches Cell Phone On Red Line Train

CHICAGO (CBS) — A 15-year-old boy has been charged with robbery, after he allegedly snatched a woman’s cell phone at the Sheridan Red Line stop and got caught by two witnesses.

The robbery happened around 10:10 a.m. this past Friday at the Chicago Transit Authority station, located about three blocks north of Wrigley Field on the cusp of the Lakeview and Uptown neighborhoods, police said.

A 25-year-old woman was riding the train, when the boy snatched her cell phone, police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez said.

The boy ran out of the train and onto the platform as the woman chased him to get her cell phone back. But the boy fought the victim off and shoved her to the ground, Perez said.

The woman suffered minor injuries to her hands and neck from the struggle, Perez said.

But two good Samaritans saw what was happening and stopped the offender before he could get away, holding him on the ground at the station until police arrived.

Akin Akinlawon said he was riding a southbound train that was stopped at the Sheridan station when he saw a woman screaming and running on the platform.

She was chasing the thief, who became cornered by her near the stairs and pushed her to the ground, Akinlawon said. He then threw her personal items under the platform.

The two Good Samaritans were on the same train car as Akinlawon and chased the thief and then pinned him down for about 10 minutes until police arrived.

Police arrested the teen, who was positively identified at the scene by the victim, Perez said. The cell phone was recovered.

The boy was charged with one felony count of robbery and is expected to appear in juvenile court Tuesday.